this is not travel related but this forum has some of the most creative people i can think of so i ask this question to the community:

i have a t-mobile phone the bill is in my fathers name.

the contract is up

i want a new RAZR phone.

it is free for a "new sign up" 1 year contract

it is $100 for a "service renew" 2 year contract

i want to get the phone for free and keep my existing phone number

t-mobile says if i cancel my fathers account and start my own account the number might be lost.

i though of switching my dads account to pre pay and the porting the numbr to my account but tmobile says they will consider this a renew, not a new sign up

any thoughts?